By Mike LofgrenPosted September 14, 2018 06:15:08The Orlando area is no stranger to a spike in violent crime in recent years.
It’s also a place where there are many places to shoot paintball guns.
But according to Orlando police, those guns are being used for self-defense.
A recent report from the Orlando Sentinel found that a significant number of the shooting victims in the city’s most violent neighborhoods are paintball players.
Police say paintball is an active sport that often goes unchecked.
The sport has been banned in Florida and many other states for decades, but in Orlando it has continued to flourish despite the restrictions.
The most dangerous places in Orlando for paintballers include the city itself, where the number of violent crimes has increased since 2015, according to police.
And that’s the main reason why the police are warning the public to be careful when it comes to shooting paintball weapons in the Orlando area.
“We know that there are areas that are known to have a lot of criminal activity,” Orlando Police Chief Michael Meehan told the Orlando Journal-Sentinel.
“We know where these areas are.
We know who they’re affiliated with.
We don’t want to have that happen.”
Meehan said that he doesn’t believe paintball has any connection to the Orlando shooting, but added that police will work to keep paintball safe.
“The paintball community is a community of people who love to play paintball,” Meeham said.
“If you don’t have the right type of gear, or you don, for whatever reason, it can have a negative impact on the community.”
The Orlando Police Department does have a paintball team that patrols the area where the shooting occurred.
But, according the Orlando Sun, they do not have a permit to shoot.
The Orlando police are hoping the public can help them track down the shooter.
If you know where he is or have any information on his whereabouts, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-827-8477.
Orlando police will release a video of the shooter if someone is identified.
If someone wants to be identified, they can call the police department’s Homicide Bureau at 407-246-TIPS.